Virgin Atlantic, China Eastern: New partnership soars

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Virgin Atlantic and China Eastern are thrilled to announce the establishment of a fresh codeshare agreement, fortifying essential connections for both business and leisure to East Asia. This collaboration enhances accessibility to numerous destinations across China. In the initial phase of this partnership, passengers booking through Virgin Atlantic can seamlessly connect from the airline’s Heathrow to Shanghai services to various destinations in China, such as Chengdu, Changsha, Qingdao, Shenzhen, and Xi’an, all on a single ticket. These flights to the specified destinations are currently available for booking.

Pending government approval, China Eastern customers will soon have the opportunity to connect via Heathrow to Caribbean and African destinations, including Jamaica, Nassau, Lagos, Cape Town, and Johannesburg.

Notably, both China Eastern and Virgin Atlantic are members of the SkyTeam alliance. Since November, the airlines have been conveniently co-located at Shanghai Pudong Terminal One. This strategic location enables Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and Silver members, along with China Eastern Miles members, to enjoy SkyPriority services, encompassing priority check-in, boarding, and additional baggage services.

Furthermore, the expanded codeshare agreement provides Flying Club members with accelerated rewards, allowing them to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points on every codeshare flight with China Eastern. The option to redeem Virgin Points is anticipated to be available shortly.

Virgin Atlantic recommenced its services to Shanghai on May 1, 2023, after navigating the challenges posed by the global pandemic. Given China’s status as one of the UK’s most crucial trading partners, the resumption of services to Shanghai, the country’s largest city and a renowned commercial and financial hub, holds great significance. The new codeshare with China Eastern, a fellow SkyTeam partner, reflects Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to meeting the ongoing demand for travel to the region and strengthens its ties to China and East Asia. This collaboration not only expands the network scope for travelers but also offers reciprocal loyalty rewards for Flying Club members, underscoring the myriad benefits these agreements bring to customers.

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